Olor Iscanus
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Meandering through some of the most diverse landscape in South Wales, the River Usk flows from it's source in a large expanse of rough boggy ground, situated beneath the impressive escarpment Fan y Foel high in the Brecon Beacons National Park. On leaving it’s source it runs through the bustling market towns of Brecon and Abergavenny, through sleepy villages and on to Usk itself, finally reaching it’s destination in the industrial city of Newport, where it joins the Severn Estuary.
The Usk has played an integral part in the history, growth and development of South East Wales. It was Bronze Age fishermen who first settled around the fertile estuary, and later at the very edge of their empire the Roman legions built their fortresses at Caerleon to defend the river crossing. Continuing clues as to the importance of the river came in July 2002, when the remains of a remarkably well-preserved medieval ship were discovered during excavations for a new art centre on the banks of the river in central Newport. The find was astonishing, though it may have been anticipated, as the area is adjacent
The 17th century Welsh poet Henry Vaughan the Silurian was born in Newton-by-Usk, and his mystical outlook on nature influenced later poets, including William Wordsworth. The last part of his name is taken from the Silurian tribe who inhabited the upland area of the Brecon Beacons around the time of the Roman invasion. His collection of poetry entitled “Swan of the Usk” (Olor Iscanus), contained rhapsodic verse about the natural beauty of the landscape and appropriately he is buried not far from the banks of the river he so loved.
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